The Word Of God

What is the Bible, and what makes it so “Holy”? The word “Bible” is from a Greek word (biblos) which means “book” or “scroll”. The Bible is holy because it comes directly from Almighty God. It’s inspired (or “God-breathed”, 2 Tim. 3:16-17). It is like a huge text-message from God. We should never ignore His “e-mail” from heaven!

The Bible is the infallible, written record of God’s will. God communicates to all mankind through the Bible. From the very beginning (see Gen. 3:15), it shows how God intended to redeem all of us from sin. The Apostle Peter wrote this: “No prophecy of Scripture ever came about by a prophet’s own ideas, because prophecy never came from what man wanted. No, those men spoke from God while they were being influenced by the Holy Spirit” (2 Pet. 1:20-21, IEB).

Never take the Bible for granted. What would your life be without it? You’d be miserable and clueless. You’d be like somebody who was lost in the wilderness without a compass! Like being up a raging river without a paddle! Do you realize how many ethnic tribes there are in the world which do NOT have a Bible in their native language!?

How valuable is God’s Word? It is worth more than silver or gold (Ps. 19:10; 119:72,127; Prov. 23:23). It contains the precious words of eternal life (John 6:63,68). The Bible is not merchandise to be peddled (see 2 Cor. 2:17, RSV); it’s not a commodity. It’s God’s truth which can make us holy, according to Jesus (John 17:17). You know, truth can be known; it sets us free from sin (John 8:32). Worldly hearts will not discover the truth, because they are not looking for it (Ps. 10:4; 119:18; Jer. 8:9). The authority of the Bible is the supreme authority on earth. God’s Law, the necessary standard, was given to us as a guide-book, like a lamp in the darkness (Ps. 119:105). Scriptural wording cannot be “broken” in any way (John 10:35).

God used about 40 writers to write the 66 books of the Bible over a period of about 1600 years. in three languages – Hebrew (the Old Testament), Aramaic (about 7 chapters in the Old Testament), and Greek (the New Testament). The Scriptures constantly point to its central Figure — Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He is our Savior. Jesus said, “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life! The only way anyone can come to the Father is through me!” (John 14:6, IEB). The Apostle John also referred to Jesus as the true Light (John 1:9) for the people of the world (John 8:12, IEB). In contrast with the Law of Moses with its system of “shadows” (Heb. 10:1), “grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17). Compare also Col. 2:17. Our heavenly Father sent Jesus to speak His truth (John 8:26,28). That truth which Jesus taught us is absolute truth, not relative truth. That is exactly why Christ came (John 18:37). Christ revealed this truth to us and we can know it, if we study it closely (John 8:32; 14:1-10; 17:7; 1 John 3:18-19; 2 John 1:1). Regarding “the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27), each person should interpret it properly (2 Tim. 2:15), commit it to memory (Ps. 119:11), meditate upon it (Ps. 119:99), heed it (Rev. 1:3), and live by it (1 John 1:6-7) every single day (Luke 9:23).

Read the International English™ Bible every day. Listen to God talking to you.